Method and arrangement for providing a gas-tight joint

ABSTRACT

A method and arrangement is provided to form a gas-tight joint between an end flange and a tubular rod. The joint is formed via a heat-shrink process to provide an interference fit. The rod is provided with grooves to retain adhesive during the assembly process.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/818,842, filed Apr. 6, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/017,177, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,036 filed on Dec. 18, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/257,959, filed on Dec. 26, 2000 in the names of James W. Barker, Jr. and Michael R. Maroney. The disclosures of application Ser. No. 10/818,842 and application Ser. No. 10/017,177, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,036, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of gas-tight columns for protective devices and systems for electrical power transmission and distribution systems, and more particularly to a method and arrangement for providing a gastight joint between two insulating column portions, e.g. between an end flange and a tubular pole-unit rod, for a circuit interrupter.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various methods are know for providing a gas-tight joint between a flange/end fitting and a tubular rod, e.g. especially for arrangements involving the end closures of gas-tight enclosures. One method utilizes a heat-shrink process whereby a metallic end flange is heated and assembled onto a tubular rod to which adhesive has been applied. Another method utilizes a flange having internal grooves that is assembled onto a tubular rod.

While the prior art arrangements may be useful to provide joints, these prior arrangements do not provide a desirable interference fit and the advantage of a grooved assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a gas-tight joint between a rod and an end flange.

These and other objects of the present invention are efficiently achieved by the provision of a method and arrangement for providing a gas-tight joint between two insulating column portions, e.g. between an end flange and a tubular pole-unit rod, for a circuit interrupter. The joint is formed via a heat-shrink process to provide an interference fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating column with parts cut away for clarity that utilizes the joint method and arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the insulating column of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the rod of the insulating column of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the rod of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to an illustrative application of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an insulating column 10 that includes a circuit interrupter, which provides electrical connection to power system circuit terminals at connection points 12, 14, at the top and bottom respectively of the circuit interrupter. In an illustrative embodiment, the insulating column includes at least one weather shed 70. As shown, the insulating column 10 includes a rod 20 that provides a sealed environment containing a gas, e.g. an insulating gas such as SF_(6.) This is advantageous in implementations where the insulating column 10 contains a pressurized gas such as SF_(6.) The connection points 12, 14 are provided on respective end flanges 16, 18 carried by the rod 20 of the insulating column 10. The end flanges 16, 18 are affixed to the rod 20 during fabrication thereof to provide gas-tight joints as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

The circuit interrupter includes upper and lower current carrying contact structures 22, 24 respectively that are relatively movable to open and close the circuit interrupter and thus make and break the electrical connection between the connection points 12, 14. In the illustrative circuit interrupter of FIG. 1, the lower contact structure 24 is movable via an operating member 26 so as to define an open gap at 30 when the circuit interrupter is open. Specifically, the lower contact structure 24 includes a movable contact member 41 that is movable via the operating member 26 and a fixed contact member 42 that supports and transfers current at 43 to the movable contact member 41 that moves within the fixed contact member 42. For example, a flexible contact arrangement is provided at 43 between the contact members 41, 42. At the upper end of the circuit interrupter, an end plate 90 is secured to the upper end flange 16 along with an appropriate sealing element 94 (FIG. 2).

Considering now important aspects of the present invention, a gas-tight joint is provided between the rod 20 and the end flanges 16 and 18. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly is accomplished via a heat-shrink process whereby the end flanges 16, 18 are heated and assembled onto the tubular rod 20 to which adhesive has been applied. Referring now additionally to FIGS. 3-4, the tubular rod 20 at each end includes a pattern 50 of grooves 52, e.g. five grooves 52 in an illustrative specific embodiment. “As used herein, the term “end” is intended broadly to encompass the extreme end as well as portions of the rod 20 adjacent to the extreme end.” The outer diameter of the tubular rod 20 is reduced, preferably by removing material from the external circumference of the rod 20. The grooves 52 are formed or machined so as to define reduced outer diameter bands or regions on the external circumference of the rod 20, e.g. grooves 52 alternating between the larger outer diameter portions 54 of the rod 20, the portions 54 also may be characterized as bands or regions 54. Additionally, the outer diameter of the rod 20 is reduced by added compressive forces without damage to the rod 20. During assembly, adhesive is applied over the pattern 50. The inner diameter 60 (FIG. 2) of the end flanges 16, 18 is dimensioned at normal temperatures to be a predetermined dimension less than the outer diameter of the tubular rod 20 at the regions or bands 54, e.g. 0.010 of an inch for a tubular rod 20 of approximately 5 inches outer diameter. Thus, an interference fit is established between the portions 54 and the end flanges 16, 18, the end flanges 16, 18 being heated to afford clearance between the rod 20 and the flange for assembly, e.g. heating to a temperature in the range of 150-200 degrees Centigrade, e.g. for end flanges 16, 18 fabricated from aluminum and a rod 20 fabricated from fiberglass. This results in an appropriate interference fit when the parts are cooled, e.g. a gas-tight joint over a temperature range of −40 C to +85 C with a gas pressure of 75 psi. In a specific implementation, the grooves 52 are approximately 0.005 of an inch deep and the bands or regions defined thereby are approximately 0.250 of an inch wide. These dimensions have been found to provide a suitable gas-tight joint using epoxy adhesive in the grooves 52, i.e. the grooves 52 retain sufficient adhesive during and after assembly.

The relative dimensions including the depth of the grooves 52 are chosen to ensure that a desirable and appropriate amount of adhesive is retained therein during the heat- shrink assembly process and even if some wiping action occurs at the high points at 54. These dimensions have also been found suitable to avoid excessive adhesive that might result from grooves 52 of excessive depth that might result in any significant degradation of the joint between the end flanges 16, 18 and the tubular rod 20 during thermal extremes. Thus, the grooves 52 maintain the appropriate amount of adhesive to ensure a gas-tight joint and the intermediate portions 54 provide a desirable mechanical shrink fit over a desired range of temperatures, i.e. in a specific example, the gas-tight interference joint is maintained at 85 C and no damage is done to the rod 20 as a result of the added compressive forces at −40 C. Additionally, the gas-tight joint is maintained when the rod 20 is loaded with a resultant moment at the joint of 20-30,000 in-lb.

While there have been illustrated and described various embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for making an insulating column comprising the steps of: a) providing a rod that includes a fiber and an end; b) providing a flange that includes an inner diameter; c) machining the end of the rod to provide a plurality of grooves that are provided with a depth; d) applying adhesive to the end of the rod; e) heating the flange to expand the inner diameter; f) assembling the flange onto the rod; and g) reducing the inner diameter of the flange to provide an interference fit between the flange and the rod.
 2. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein the interference fit is approximately 0.010 of an inch.
 3. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein depth is approximately 0.005 of an inch.
 4. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein the depth is less than the amount of the interference fit.
 5. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein the depth is approximately half the amount of the interference fit.
 6. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein the depth is approximately half the amount of the interference fit.
 7. The method for making an insulating column according to claim 1, wherein: a) the interference fit is approximately 0.010 of an inch; and b) the depth is approximately 0.005 of an inch.
 8. A method for making an insulating column comprising the steps of: a) providing a rod that includes a fiber; b) machining an end of the rod to provide a plurality of grooves; c) providing a flange; d) heating the flange; e) assembling the flange onto the rod; and f) allowing the flange to cool.
 9. A method for making an insulating column comprising the steps of: a) providing a rod that includes a fiber and an end that has an outer diameter; b) machining the end of the rod to provide a plurality of grooves; c) providing a flange that includes an inner diameter; d) heating the flange; e) assembling the flange onto the end of the rod; f) allowing the flange to cool; g) providing at least one shed; and h) locating the shed around at least a portion of the rod. 